Mumbai: The Asian Institute of Oncology on Wednesday felicitated the doctors who were awarded with Padma Shri this year. ENT surgeon Dr Milind Kirtane, Oncosurgeon Dr Raman Deshpande and endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi were among the winners this year.

The names were announced on Republic Day. These 3 eminent doctors will receive the Padma Shri award from President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony in Delhi. “My work is concentrated around conducting cochlear implants for the deaf. Since 1995, our team has trained doctors from across India, including public hospitals like KEM, Sion and Nair, to conduct such implants,” said Dr Kirtane. He has been practicising at the privately-run Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, for four decades. During his long career, he has treated about 1,600 children who had a hearing disability, who are now able to hear. “This could help many of the 2-3 million people in the country who are deaf. About 90% of them are children.” he said.

Joshi, who practices at Lilavati hospital said, “Currently, there are 65 million diabetics in India. Today, we are next only to China in the number of people with diabetes. I have been advocating the prevention of diabetes through eating less, eating right, walking more, sleeping well and smiling more. We are designing guidelines for physicians to treat diabetes, rather than following foreign models”.

Deshpande, a well-known oncosurgeon, worked at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) for 17 years. He was the first person to introduce thoracoscopic surgery at TMH.

Source : Sachin Murudeshwar